Edgar baker



(No Model.

. E. BAKER.

STOPPING AND STARTING MECHANISM FOR INTBRMITTENT MACHINES,

Patented Apr .3, 1883. 1'29, 1.

UNITED, STATES P TENT OFFICE.

EDGAR BAKER, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND SAMUEL W. GURRIDEN, ()F SAME PLACE.

STOPPING AND STARTING MECHANISM FOR lNTERMlTTENT MACHlNES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 275,116, dated April 3, 1883. Application filed February 21, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDGAR BAKER, of the city of Washington, in the District of Columbia, h-.ive invented certain new and useful Improvements in Starting and Stopping Mechanisms for Intermittent Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to means for starting and stopping mechanism which is designed for rapid intermittent motion, and which in its operation for any purpose requiresor is more prolific in its product with-the aid of both hands of the operator thereof; and although applicable to power-driven sewing-machines, scroll-saws, molding or forming machines, and various other similar mechanical tools, I have in this instance illustrated the said invention as applied to a plate-printing press as an ex- .ample of the above-described character of ma chines, and as an instance in which I deem such application of especial value, in that the increase in the aggregate product of a press so modified is an essential advance over that of the same press operated as heretofore in respect to the means employed for starting and stopping the same; and I therefore deem it proper to state that although such specific application of and embodiment in a printingpress is especially advantageous in that art, still I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the application of my invention thereto, but should deem the application of the same to anyintermittently-operated mechanism as comprehended by my invention, which consists in certain features hereinafter more fully described, and specifically set forth in the claims.

The nature of my invention and the man-. ner in which the same is or may be carried into effect can best beexplained and understood by power-driven shaft, and B a counter-shaft provided in this instance with a driving-gear, G, and bevel-gear O.

G is a companion bevel-gear, affixed to an upright shaft, 0 which is adapted in any suitable manner-for example, as in United States Patent No. 180,490, dated August 1, 1876-[0 operate the beds or plates upon which the engraved plates rest to carry said beds or plates around the frame D upon the tracks d d, (see Fig. 2,) so that when said beds approach, pass, and leave each corner of the frame the different steps in the process of printing which require one or both hands of the operator are accomplished-that is to say, the inking and wiping of the plates is performed as the bed or plank approaches one corner, pauses, (while passing the same,) and starts again to the next, where the polishing is done, while at the third the sheet to be printed is laid on, and after the impression is taken at either 00 or y, midway between two corners by the usual rolls, (not shown,) and finally at the fourth corner the sheet is removed. In this mannerthe plates are manipulated successively, and as the polishing of the plate is required to be very thorough the machine has been intermittently operated to give time for the accomplishment of this step in the/process, and has been so operated by means of an ordinary hand-lever connected to shiftable power-communicating mechanism, thus requiring the use of one hand of the operator, which was thus necessarily withdrawn from the work of preparing the plates.

To enable the operator the full use of both hands uninterruptedly in the described steps in the process is the object of this invention. To this end I provide means whereby the operator may start and stop the machine at pleasure by his foot; and I deem it proper to state that I do not claim, broadly,a shiftable powercommunicating mechanism adapted'to be op erated by foot.

Upon the main shaftAis rigidly secured one member, 6, of a clutch, E, the other member, a, of which is formed integral with along pinion, F, and the member e and the pinion are adapted to slide longitudinally upon the shaft. The member 6 of the clutch is provided with pins or lugs-two in this instance, (see ff, Fig. 1,)

made very smooth and tapering in form,which enter corresponding spring-closed sockets (not shownlformed in the opposite member, a, of the clutch, thereby rigidly securing the member 6 on the shaft. A yoke,G, (see Fig. 2,) embraces the member 0 within agroove formed thereon, and is secured to a rod, H, supported at each end in suitable hearings, in which it is adapt-. ed to slide longitudinally. A link, I, extends from the rod H to an arm,j, of a rock-shaft, J, located in the lower portion of the frame-work and at right angles to the main shaft, which rock-shaft is provided with a second arm, 9", to which is secured an over balance or weight, K, and with a third arm,j which has secured thereto a foot-board, L, the last two elements consituting the treadle. Now, it will be seen that upon depressing the treadle L the weight K is elevated and the rod H is drawn to the left, as shown,and brings, with it the memher 6 of the clutch with its pins or lugs f f into contact with its companion and its springclosed sockets, and thus motion is communicated from shaft A to shaft 0 and the plates, and that upon removing the foot from the treadle said clutch is thrown off from its companion bythe action of the weight K upon the rock-shaft J. To more readily effect this result and insure the prompt and automatic uncoupling of the clutch, thereby stopping the machine, I have employed lugs or pins ff of avery smootl1,taperingform, and when they enter the spring-closed sockets (not shown) formed in the member cof the clutch,the tendency of the spring-sockets is to close and expel or force them therefrom, thus assisting very materially the weight K in uncoupling the clutch, and in disconnecting the driving mechanism of the press. It is found that in plateprinting presses this mechanism in actual practice facilitates and at the same time lessens to a remarkable degree the work of the operator, and increases the capacity and efficiency of the machine in producing an increase in impressions of about one-half as many more in a day as have heretofore been customary. It is apparent,however,that this mechanism is fully applicable to other machines of the class described without materially altering the same, and may be readily applied to them at but slightexpense; and,furthermore, the rock-shaft J may be arranged parallel with the main shaft bysubstituting a bell-crank lever for the link I. Having described my invention and the best way known to me of carrying the same into effect, whatI claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows: 7 The combination of a power-driven shaft, having a fixed clutch member thereon, with a movable clutch member, a yoke embracing the same and connected to a rod disposed parallel to said shaft, and a link pivotally secured to ranged at right angles to said driven or main shat't,and provided with a: counter-balance and a treadle, substantially as specified. 7

2. The combination of the shaftA, clutch E, pinion F, gear (J, and shafts B and O with the rod H, rock-shaft J, arranged at right angles to the shaft A, and counterbalanced treadle L, and suitable connecting mechanism, substantially as specified.

3. The combination of shafts A B C clutch members 0 0, gears F O G 0 yoke G, rod H, link I, rock-shaft J, having armsjjf, weight K, and treadle L, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereofI have hereunto set my hand this 20th day of February, 1883.

EDGAR BAKER. Witnesses:

SAML. W. CURRIDEN, J. WALTER BLANDFORD.

said rod and to one arm of a rock-shaft ar- 

